I have an idea for a book
Today I got an email from someone who has an idea for a unique bike-related book. She asked, “Do you have any suggestions about who I should talk to or how I should develop this idea?”
Here’s my reply:
Should beginners start out on plush bikes?
/in Ask Lee, Equipment/by leelikesbikesHey Lee,
Here is a didactic question for you: Is it better for a beginner to start out on a bike that’s overkill for the trails they normally ride (e.g. a 6″ travel AM bike for tame trails) or is it best to learn on a less plush bike so they really must learn handling skills (assuming that person could afford to purchase either)? I kind of think the former is true…
My wife had a mid price hard tail and never made any progression in handling skills because going fast felt harsh and scary. She was afraid to try anything new, rode slowly and only on the easiest trails. Then she got a hand-me-down long travel AM bike. She was instantly more comfortable at speeds and started to venture into more technical terrain. And she got a lot better. Now she can take the hard tail out and rip and enjoys the added challenge of the smaller bike. So the plush bike was like training wheels that allowed her to learn how to ride.
Of course one could make the opposite argument, like why BMX riders are often so darn good at mountain biking.
I would love to know your thoughts-Thanks! Jake
Stopping the negative thought spiral
/1 Comment/in Ask Lee, Coaching/by leelikesbikesHey Lee,
Just wondering if you had any advice for helping me break the vicious cycle I seem to be stuck in at the moment.
At the beginning of this year, I felt like my riding was improving and my confidence was building with most every ride. There was the occasional setback, but I found it easy to shrug it off and not dwell on it.
The past couple months haven’t been so rosy. March started off with a couple crashes that were a little more significant, but still nothing I’d consider major. Some cracked/separated ribs were about the extent of the injuries. However, ever since, I’ve struggled with sections of trails that used to be no problem. I find myself focusing on negative possibilities rather than positive outcomes. Of course, this leads to crashes and close calls, which tend to make me more cautious, which leads to further undesirable situations, and so on.
I know what I’m doing wrong (mentally) but I can’t seem to snap my brain out of it. I keep trying to push through it, but it’s starting to not be fun anymore.
Thanks for any advice you can send my way.
Eric
Lee likes road skills
/in Coaching/by leelikesbikesHi all, I updated my clinics page with info on road riding. Road bikes are rad — especially when you know how to Ride them (capital R).
Skills clinics with Lee > Road
It’s raining today. The way things are going, I might start teaching trainer clinics …
Temporary pump track for event in Finland
/2 Comments/in Pump tracks, Trail building/by leelikesbikesTeaching tip for leaning bike more than body?
/8 Comments/in Ask Lee, Coaching/by leelikesbikesHey Lee,
I have been working with a couple of people for a while now and I just can’t get them to lean their bike more than their body. They came to MTB quite recently from other sports and nothing I have tried with them will get them to forget their deeply ingrained past.
Got any hot tips on a drill to make people see the light? I was getting them to slalom down a slope on slippery grass where it is about the only way to get around the corners, but it didn’t work for them.
I went back to your book today hoping there was something. While it talks about the importance of cornering that way, it doesn’t provide a skills drill for it.
Cheers man!
Michael
Chocolate milk and recovery
/9 Comments/in Ask Lee, Skills/training/by leelikesbikesHi Lee,
Can you share any good foods, drinks or shake recipes that you may use to speed muscle recovery when riding many days back to back? I typically try and drink milk or chocolate milk right after I ride, and generally eat high protein and high fiber foods.
Thanks a bunch and ride on!
Jon in Vermont
Cancelled: tomorrow’s Ranchstyle clinic
/in /by leelikesbikesThe Ranchstyle event in Grand Junction, CO is still happening this weekend. No changes, as far as I know to the comps or other clinics.
Unfortunately, I had to cancel my Friday clinic. I apologize to the riders who registered. Life with a capital L. If you registered for my clinic, I’ll give you $50 off a class in the Boulder area.
Where should we build our Deutsch pump track?
/3 Comments/in Ask Lee, Pump tracks, Trail building/by leelikesbikesHey Lee,
Thanks to Welcome to Pump Track Nation, I am working on my pumptrack project and things look good, Germany) will support the project. They will even allow us to use a piece of public property to build the track on. Right now I’m thinking about the exact location and this is where I have one or two questions.
• The track could be close to some trees which would mean shade from around noon in summer, but also leaves in fall. Alternatively it could be built in some distance to those trees (no shade at all).
• In your book you write that water is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately a connection to the water main is rather difficult at the site. For the building process we could use water from a tank truck. As for the maintenance of the track – is water really necessary for this? Dust is not a factor. Generally, I think we have much more rain (let’s call it precipitation to sound smarter 😉 – you see, I also enjoy the linguistic finesse of your books) in Germany than you do in the Midwest.
Thanks for your advice!
Ralf
The mysterious wandering front wheel
/7 Comments/in Ask Lee, Skills/training/by leelikesbikesHi Lee,
Hope you’re doing well. I’ve been mountain biking quite a bit and I have a question. When I’m riding slowly up a hill, I have trouble keeping the front wheel from wandering back and forth. The hills aren’t that steep and the wheel doesn’t feel light. Leaning forward to get more weight on the wheel doesn’t seem to help. It just seems that I have trouble holding a straight line at low speed without losing my balance. I’ve been doing standing track stands and have gotten pretty good, but other riders seem to be able to keep their front wheel straight better than me while riding seated and slowly. Of course, having the front wheel wander back and forth wastes energy and also makes it more difficult to hold a good path between the rocks. Any suggestions?
Regards,
Chuck (a Jedi Knight clinic graduate)
Speaking of pump tracks at schools …
/1 Comment/in Pump tracks, Trail building/by leelikesbikesIn comments for Save the pump track at Clayton Middle School in Salt Lake City, Teacher Jeff Zook hinted a campus pump track might interfere with class time — but imagine the teaching opportunities.
Save the pump track at Clayton Middle School in Salt Lake City
/16 Comments/in Pump tracks/by leelikesbikesThis just in from the Pump Track Nation. If you live in SLC (or even, I suppose, if you don’t), please consider passing this note along to the mayor.
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